U.S. Customs and Border Protection Employee Reviews

There are many opportunities for various training, to transfer locations and work temporary assignments. I learned a lot throughout my 25 year career with the agency and enjoyed my various work assignments. What I did not learn to do was to network and be a "yes" person. The workplace culture appears to be if you like to network and hang out with the managers you seem to be selected for opportunities. There is a prevalence for nepotism that will not go away. The job was more enjoyable before US Customs Service and Immigration Naturalization Service was merged to form US Customs and Border Protection. It made it difficult for the two agencies to learn the other agency's laws and procedures. I believe the new CBP officers can do the job better without that conflict.

Pros

Overtime Pay. Healthcare and retirement benefits

Cons

Quality of life... overtime can be mandatory.

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Work doesn’t go home with you.

Officer (Current Employee) - Queens, NY - September 20, 2023

Good management, decent coworkers, only issue would be the workload but the compensation makes up for it. The job is really what you make of it. Would recommend as a entry level LEO gig for those in search of a career

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U.S. Customs and Border Protection insights

Based on 114 survey responses

What people like

Ability to learn new things
Overall satisfaction
Fair pay for job

The Supervisors are two-faced snakes honestly

General Laborer/Forklift Operator (Former Employee) - La Porte, TX - September 19, 2023

They need to rehire new Supervisors to actually run the warehouse not offenders.All around terrible management

Pros

Three Twelve’s

Cons

Terrible Management

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Law Enforcement Minded Individuals Will Thrive in CBP

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officer (Former Employee) - San Ysidro, CA - September 14, 2023

There's a lot to learn, but will be rewarded with rapid advancement if you want it. Academy is paid. Benefits are great. More overtime than you usually want. Overtime is all paid double-time (for CBP Officers). It's easy to move around the country. International locations also available if wanted.

Pros

High pay. Great benefits. Journeyman level is GS-12.

Cons

Too much forced overtime. Schedules are bad if you have low seniority.

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Management a joke

Canine officer (Former Employee) - San Ysidro, CA - September 6, 2023

Nepotism high. Managers extremely incompetent. Wonder how anything gets done. Good training from firearms staff. Is good because agency wants to mitigate liability, leave you out in cold if you are out of policy.

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Great Mission, Government Security, But has leadership challenges.

Director (Former Employee) - Florida - August 22, 2023

The mission of protecting the United States is a challenging and rewarding mission. Working for the government can be frustrating as it seems to take a lot of effort to get the smallest things accomplished. Working for the government does mean you will always get a reliable paycheck though. The biggest issue with this organization is decades of self serving leadership and a determination to promote from within when the leadership skills really aren't there. The current senior leadership team is a group of former operators who have promoted well beyond their capabilities and are just hoping nobody notices.

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very exciting, very busy, alwpys something going on but overall pretty interesting place to work

Retired-Federal Government-Paralegal Specialist (Former Employee) - San Diego, CA - July 6, 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Helping individuals to better understand the laws and how to recover any seized property, and/or penalties assessed and how to either make payments or clear the penalty assessed. What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Working with difficult individuals while trying to assist them, whether it be internal or external.What is the work environment and culture like at the company?very busy and professional environmentWhat is a typical day like for you at the company?from the start of the day to closing the office/company is extremely busy

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decent

Officer (Current Employee) - San Diego, CA - June 13, 2023

great pay. long hours. terrible people you have to deal with. a lot of drug and human smuggling in this area. management is terrible but i dont let them get to me. seniority makes work better, easier as there are departments you dont have to deal with the public.

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Good steady job

Agriculture Specialist (Current Employee) - Newark, NJ - June 13, 2023

Good pay and good benefits. Most of your coworkers are great people. Management is typical for government. Worst part of job is everything is based on seniority. Hard to manage work/life balance until you get a lot of years in. Job is mostly weird hours and shifts. Working holidays and weekends. Unexpected forced overtime.

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Retired Agent

Border Patrol Agent (Former Employee) - Southwest USA - May 27, 2023

Silence and head shaking in a yes motion is rewarded. If you do your job well, you will be recognized. Higher HQ (Sector/Washington) are political pawns at the whim of the Administration. I have never seen the morale as low as it is right now (2022 - present). Upper management has only xoncern for their high three pay, and government contracts when they retire. Get you three years Fed LE experience and get out to another Fed Agency. The BP is not what it used to be sadly :(.......

Pros

Good pay, benefits, retirement. A lot if good agents to work with!

Cons

Bad Upper Management

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Jobs at U.S. Customs and Border Protection

Agriculture Specialist

Okay

CBPO-CUSTOMS & BORDER PROTECTION OFFICER (Current Employee) - Jamaica, NY - May 2, 2023

Management keeps changing things what they don't know. May work nights weekends and holidays and tough to get annual leave on the desired days for family leave.

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Productive and socially fulfilling

Supervisory Customs and Border Protection Officer (Former Employee) - Buffalo, NY 14210 - April 20, 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Very fulfilling career. Great salary and pension.What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Dealing with the volume of people and vehicles crossing the POE.What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Difficult work but a supportive environment.

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Great mission

Field Technology Officer (Current Employee) - March Air Reserve Base, CA - March 28, 2023

The overall mission of the Customs and Border protection is excellent however the leaders at local levels feel as if they have no direction or leadership capabilities

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Lots of good experiences with good retirement

Air Interdiction Agent / Pilot (Former Employee) - Plattsburgh, NY - March 23, 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?Flying a various aircraft and the excellent vendor training What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Some managers should not be in their positions What is the work environment and culture like at the company?For the most part good people and good equipment What is a typical day like for you at the company?Like a fire station. You really don’t know what’s going to happen

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the pay is great.

Paralegal Specialist (Current Employee) - South Dakota - February 23, 2023

You earn vacation and sick leave and they dont give you grief when you take it. You can carry over 240 hours a year of vacation. You usually get a cost of living raise every year and for the first 4 years you get an automatic pay increase. Then its every other year for the next 6 years along with the cost of living raise. The health insurance is one of the best and its pretty cheap. You get to take advantage of the Thrift Savings Plan that you will also use for retirement.

Pros

Pay, vacation time, retirement options, sick leave, paid holidays

Cons

dealing with the public, sometimes working holidays but you get paid extra

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Meh

Technician (Former Employee) - New Orleans, LA - January 25, 2023

It's a federal job. Great way to get your foot in the door. Very easy to get stuck in one position. No one ever retires, so you gotta be willing to move around for promotions. Usually can get a great recommendation from supervisors though since they understand how it goes.

Pros

excellent healthcare benefits

Cons

Too many cooks in the kitchen.

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5 stars

Federal Law Enforcement Officer (Former Employee) - Detroit, MI - January 3, 2023

What is the best part of working at the company?The people. The job.What is the most stressful part about working at the company?You are a federal law enforcement officer. So stress with being armedWhat is the work environment and culture like at the company?Excellent. Everyone works together.What is a typical day like for you at the company?8 plus hours a day. Some boring moments followed by very exciting moments

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Agency not supported in it's Mission

Director (Former Employee) - Washington, DC - December 27, 2022

CBP is not being given the support it needs to secure our Border. The people are professionals but the climate is toxic. If you want to make a start, this agency needs help.

Pros

Professional training

Cons

High stress, no support from Current Administration

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4 stars

Director of Product Development & Global Sourcing (Current Employee) - Pomona, CA - November 27, 2022

What is the best part of working at the company?Great opportunity for journeyman with minimum 15-20 years plus experience with industry What is the most stressful part about working at the company?Setting up system and processing with apps & ERPs yourself Then mentoring team with the details while accomplishing the tasks What is the work environment and culture like at the company?Leadership and experience, are crucial on all aspects What is a typical day like for you at the company?5am start tracking progress and update ERPs By 8 am, meetings and analysis of results 11am, maintaining BOMs & specifications outlined 1pm, updating team on progress and adjustments 3pm, direct contact with design team and purchasing department 5pm, initiate 48 hrs schedule of process & time line 7pm, overseas team meetings and updating Hybrid or on sight or traveling- time line is pretty much the same (must be on location once a month at fabrication & production)

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Great place to work

Border Patrol Agent (Former Employee) - Arizona - October 17, 2022

Honestly a great agency to work for with a great mission in mind. If roughing it in the outdoors is your kind of gig, then joining the U.S. Border Patrol would be right up your alley.

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Overworked

Assistant Director (Current Employee) - Washington, DC - September 27, 2022

Entire team is overworked and morale is extremely low. Leadership doesn’t care about their people. High stress at all times. Leadership does not trust its employees.

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